E3 2014 – Sony Media Briefing Highlights

To watch all the trailers and gameplay footage for the titles announced during the Sony Briefing, check out the YouTube playlist we have cultivated.

Sony started their Media Briefing with a trailer for Destiny before Andrew House, Sony President and Group CEO, took the stage to remind the audience why PlayStation believes they are the best pace to play – “connected, highest visual quality, choice and being a member of a community of rivals and friends.” The Destiny beta will be available July 17, 2014, first on PlayStation. PS4 owners will have the opportunity to access the alpha starting Thursday, June 12th by visiting GreatnessAwaits.com/Destiny to register.

Sony is releasing a glacier white PS4 Destiny bundle which will include: a 500GB PS4 console, white dual-shock controller, a copy of Destiny and a 30-day voucher for PS Plus. The bundle will be available for purchase upon the game’s release September 4, 2014.

Graphic credit: Sony PlayStationThe Order 1886

Entwined developed by a small group of recent graduates. Entwined focuses on two souls in love that cannot be together. Maximizing use of the dual-shock controller as players attempt to control two characters at a time. As the souls fly across the gamespace, trails of color create works of art as players work to bring the characters together to form a beautiful dragon. Scott Rohde, Sr. VP of Worldwide Studios, announced Entwined is available now in the PS Store for PS4 ($9.99) with PS3 and PS Vita versions to follow.

inFAMOUS: Second Son will have a stand-alone DLC, inFAMOUS: First Light. Players do not need to own a copy of inFAMOUS: Second Son to play the DLC; however, those who do own the game will receive exclusive content. The DLC will be released in August 2014.

Little Big Planet 3 on PS4 has enhanced graphics which add new textures. The new version includes new sets of power-ups, as well as new friends – OddSock, Toggle and Swoop. Each of the friends has their own unique abilities: OddSock can wall-jump; Toggle can alter its size to become large or small; and Swoop can fly, allowing for more fun and ease of gameplay in difficult multiplayer games. Shuhei Yoshida, President of Worldwide Studios, announced players will be able to access all of the expansive community-created Little Big Planet content on PS4 with enhanced graphics.

Bloodborne in development for 2015 release.

Alexander Hutchinson, Creative Director at Ubisoft, introduced a gameplay demo of Far Cry 4. Adam Boyes, Sony VP of Publisher & Developer Relations, added PS3 and PS4 owners will be able to invite their friends to play, even if they don’t own Far Cry 4 through the PS Store when it is released in November 2014.

Given the popularity of zombies, players can expect more undead action with the release of Dead Island 2. there will be a 30-day exclusive beta and a full character class on PS4.

Offering more zombie action, Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition, set to launch August 19, 2014, will have a specifically themed dungeon and their own attacks.

Graphic credit: Sony PlayStation
The beta for Battlefield: Hardline is open now, exclusively on PS4.

In a partnership with Disney, a collector’s edition of Disney Infinity 2, exclusive to PS3 & PS4 will include Hulk as well as five other Avengers. Disney Infinity 2 is also coming to PlayStation TV and PS Vita.

Sony is partnering with Paradox Interactive to develop exclusive PlayStation games. The first title to be released will be Magicka 2.

Returning after 15 years, Double Fine with the Sony third party development team is working to re-master Grim Fandango, exclusively for PS4 and PS Vita.

In support of indie games, Devolver Digital are developing a series of games for exclusive release on PlayStation platforms, including: Broforce, Titan Souls, Not a Hero, Hotline Miami andThe Talos Principle.

Let it Die is coming exclusively to PS4 for release in 2015.

From the minds behind Journey, Giant Squid premieres their new title, ABZÛ, which will make it’s debut on PS4.

Also making its console debut on PS4, No Man’s Sky. Sean Murray, Founder of the indie studio Hello Games behind No Man’s Sky gives a closer look at the game which will start every player on a different planet to ensure a truly unique gameplay experience.

Andrew House returned to the stage to share how PlayStation is maximizing the camera, specifically with Project Morpheus.

Shawn Layden, President & CEO of Sony America, presents the latest tools for the PlayStation Network which enables sharing features, such as Share Factory and the photo mode in inFAMOUS: Second Sun. YouTube will also be coming to PSN and will include integration with the dual-shock share button. Sony is also working to enhance spectator interactivity, allowing observers to interact with the player during real-time play. Sony is also committing to Free-to-Play gaming with more than 25 truly Free to Play games coming to the network in the next 12 months, including: Planetside 2, Gunza, My Singing Monsters and War Thunder.

PlayStation Now service will be available in the US and Canada as an open beta on PS4 starting July 31, 2014. PS Now service to PS3 and PS Vita will follow. PS Now will also be available on Sony smart televisions in the future so a console is not necessary. During the beta, players have access to the vast catalog which will start with PS3 titles. The open beta is being used to obtain feedback on the service as well as test rental durations and pricing. PS Now will also be available for PS Vita to expand upon the catalog for the mobile platform.

PlayStation TV is coming to the US, Canada and Europe this fall. The small box will allow for remote play through PS4, provide access to streaming services and PS Now, as well as the ability to play PS Vita as well as PS One and PSP titles, bringing access to more than 1,000 games at launch when it will be released for $99. $139 bundle to include a dual-shock 3 controller, 8GB memory card, HDMI cable and a voucher for The Lego Movie game.

Mortal Kombat X is being developed for PS4.

Sony is developing original programming, the first of which is Powers, based on the comic. Brian Michael Bendis joins the powers show as Co-creator and Executive Producer. The series has already been greenlit for 2 seasons, casting is underway and the series will be available for viewing in the US in December 2014. Every PSN user will get access to the first episode for free. PlayStaion Plus will include original programming. An example is the entire Powers series will be free to PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Sony is also developing theatrical releases for PlayStation fans, as well as wider audiences. We get a look at Ratchet & Clank the Movie which will release in theaters in 2015. In addition, they are working on re-mastering Ratchet & Clank for PS4.

House shares a trailer for The Last of Us Remastered for PS4, scheduled for release July 29, 2014.

Grand Theft Auto V is coming to PS4 Fall 2014, featuring enhancements for the next-gen console. The biggest news is current PS3 & Xbox 360 player communities will be able to transfer their GTA characters and progress to PS4.

Rocksteady and Warner Bros. present Batman: Arkham Knight.

Naughty Dog teases the return of Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, slated for release in 2015.